New Scholarship! PASIC International Scholarship Fund

PASIC International Scholarship

PASIC (Percussive Arts Society International Convention) takes place yearly in the United States and attracts more than 6,000 drummers, percussionists, industry professionals, and enthusiasts from around the world for five days of action-packed concerts and workshops. One of the most important parts of the event is meeting people face to face. PASIC provides an opportunity to meet your musical heroes, to see them on the elevator, and ask for an autograph and a photo; but it’s also the chance for young people to assert themselves as professionals and begin to form relationships that will shape their future. The PASIC International Scholarship is given to one or two recipients from outside of the United States to attend PASIC (cost of conference included), pay for flights from the recipient’s home country, provide a small per diem for food, and pay hotel and visa/passport fees. Thank you for your generosity in helping fund this amazing opportunity for students who would not otherwise have it.

The following companies have recognized the value of the annual Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), such that they have established scholarship funds in order to assist individuals to attend PASIC at little or no cost.

Avedis Zildjian Company PASIC Scholarship

PAS is pleased to announce this scholarship assisting a student to attend PASIC. Each scholarship recipient will receive PASIC registration, PASIC souvenir t-shirt and $500 toward the cost of transportation/lodging.

PAS is pleased to announce this scholarship assisting a student to attend PASIC. Each scholarship recipient will receive PASIC registration, PASIC souvenir t-shirt and $500 toward the cost of transportation/lodging.

PAS is pleased to announce this scholarship assisting a student to attend PASIC. Each scholarship recipient will receive PASIC registration, PASIC souvenir t-shirt and $500 toward the cost of transportation/lodging.

PAS is pleased to announce this scholarship assisting a student to attend PASIC. Each scholarship recipient will receive PASIC registration, PASIC souvenir t-shirt and $500 toward the cost of transportation/lodging.

PAS is pleased to announce this scholarship assisting a student to attend PASIC. Each scholarship recipient will receive PASIC registration, PASIC souvenir t-shirt and $500 toward the cost of transportation/lodging. As the timpanist of the Cleveland Orchestra from 1942 until his retirement in 1981, Cloyd Duff earned a reputation as one of the finest timpanists of the twentieth century, known the world over for his beautiful, singing sound and his flawless musicianship. He was an absolute master of touch, finesse, and intonation, and also a master at the myriad details of the instrument—stick making, head clearing, head tucking and mounting, instrument maintenance and so on. For his students he was an inspiration; for his colleagues, he was the rock-solid foundation of the Cleveland Orchestra.

PAS is pleased to announce this scholarship assisting a student to attend PASIC. Each scholarship recipient will receive PASIC registration, PASIC souvenir t-shirt and $500 toward the cost of transportation/lodging. Val Eddy, born Chester William Smith, was a highly successful xylophonist, drummer, composer, arranger, author, and real estate broker. During World War II he attended the Navy School of Music and served on the battleship USS California, where he became an arranger for the ship's band. At the conclusion of the war, Eddy finished his six-year enlistment as a member of the U.S. Naval Academy Band at Annapolis, Maryland. During his professional career he appeared with such performers as Danny Thomas, George Gobel, Sarah Vaughn, and Lucille Ball. He also made radio and television appearances on Arthur Godfrey Talent Scouts, Live Like a Millionaire, The Mollie Goldberg Show, and Horace Heidt's Hit Parade.

PAS is pleased to announce this scholarship assisting a student to attend PASIC. Each scholarship recipient will receive PASIC registration, PASIC souvenir t-shirt and $500 toward the cost of transportation/lodging. "Steve Ettleson embraced the drumming world with all of his heart and soul," says Peter Erskine. "He understood the music, the players and the instruments. And in some manner or form, he has helped every drummer in the business. Significant product and marketing developments took place at the Paiste, Yamaha, Remo and Evans companies while he worked for them. His boundless enthusiasm for music and incredible sense of humor made him the 'dream' ally for any drummer to have in the business-even if Steve was working for a different company than one you might be associated with!-because Steve truly loved music above all other things. For me, Steve defined all the best things about the music industry, drumming and friendship. I really miss him."

PAS is pleased to announce this scholarship assisting students to attend PASIC. Each scholarship recipient will receive PASIC registration, PASIC souvenir t-shirt and $500 toward the cost of transportation/lodging. Jack McKenzie was Dean Emeritus of the College of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois. Prior to his service as Dean, he directed the percussion program in the School of Music for 13 years. In the mid-1960's, he founded the Contemporary Chamber Players of the University of Illinois and served as its first conductor. He was one of the founding members of the Percussive Arts Society and has written a number of works featuring percussion instruments published by Music for Percussion and Media Press. McKenzie studied music at the University of Illinois (B.M.1954) and at Arizona State University (M.A.1956). In 1981 he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy Degree by the China Academy, Taiwan.

PAS is pleased to announce this scholarship assisting a student to attend PASIC. Each scholarship recipient will receive PASIC registration, PASIC souvenir t-shirt and $500 toward the cost of transportation/lodging. Jim Sewrey is currently the adjunct Professor of Percussion at Wisconsin Lutheran College. He has been an instrumental music educator since 1951, serving the field of band programs and percussion from elementary through high school, and college/university instrumental music education and percussion programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Within the music industry, he has been a product manager, an educational director, and an educational artist percussion clinician. Mr. Sewrey is a Charter member of the American School Band Directors Association (1953); a co-founder and director of the Percussion Workshop of America (1956); a founding member of PAS (1961); the founder-director of the Project Create Percussion Ensemble school student outreach program and Drum Brigade (1985), and the adult Spring City Area Percussion Ensemble (2000). Jim has been recognized with awards from the Milwaukee Civic Music Association, ASBDA, and PAS.

PAS is pleased to announce this scholarship assisting a student to attend PASIC. Each scholarship recipient will receive PASIC registration, PASIC souvenir t-shirt and $500 toward the cost of transportation/lodging. Tom Siwe was inducted into the PAS Hall of Fame in 2011. Siwe was first elected to the PAS Board of Directors in 1976. He served as Second Vice-president from 1980-81, First Vice-President from 1981-84 (and Treasurer in 1983), President from 1984-86, and Comptroller from 1986-88. He was honored with the Outstanding PAS Service Award in 1986 and 1989, and with the PAS Lifetime Achievement in Education Award in 2002. In addition to his work with PAS, Siwe had a distinguished career leading the percussion department at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign for 30 years. Siwe is also the man behind the Guide to Solo and Ensemble Literature, one of the most important percussion research sources of all time. He has performed with such groups as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops, and published articles in leading music journals and compositions for percussion.

PAS is pleased to announce this scholarship assisting a student to attend PASIC. Each scholarship recipient will receive PASIC registration, PASIC souvenir t-shirt and $500 toward the cost of transportation/lodging. "It is the culmination of a lifetime "the highest award in 'percussiondom' "I can finally die," says William F. Ludwig II of his induction to the PAS Hall of Fame. Though the PAS membership is composed of players, educators, students and industry people, Ludwig is overwhelmed about his election because, "Most of the people in the Hall of Fame are there for playing." Ludwig has worked in the music business for over 50 years. He is articulate and quick-witted, and his presence is as commanding as his professional stature.

PAS is pleased to announce this scholarship assisting a student to attend PASIC. Each scholarship recipient will receive PASIC registration, PASIC souvenir t-shirt and $500 toward the cost of transportation/lodging. Jim Coffin joined the UNI faculty in 1964 where he instituted both the jazz and percussion programs. In 1972, Jim joined the Selmer Company, where he was the marketing, education, and artist-relations manager for Premier Drums. Ten years later, he joined the Yamaha Corporation and was responsible for the development and marketing of their percussion products until 1993. Jim is the author of The Performing Percussionist I & II and Solo Album. As a clinician, soloist, adjudicator, and conductor he appeared in 40 states and five Canadian provinces. After retiring from Yamaha he was a contributor to Drum Business magazine; editor of the drumset column in Percussive Notes; a marketing consultant; presenter of music business seminars; Secretary of the PAS Executive Committee; and a published fiction writer. He played on and produced a CD, The Seasons of Our Lives; was interim Symphonic Band conductor at Cal State University San Bernadino; and wrote and edited a Sherlockian newsletter. In 1999 he received the PAS President's Industry Award, and in 2005 he received the Outstanding PAS Supporter Award.